CONNECTIONS: Arts & Entertainment

Editor's note
: If you would like your group to be included in our periodic "Arts" listings, send the information to commnews@nctimes.com.

NORTH COUNTY:

The Toe Tappers
, a senior tap dancing performance group for people 50 and older, has openings. Dancers should know basic tap steps and enjoy performing routines in costumes for a variety of shows. The group practices at various times and locations Monday and Thursday mornings. Call 760-729-4035.

COAST

The American Sewing Guild, North County Coastal Group
meets at 10 a.m. the second Saturday at Pacific Breeze Church, 3780 Pio Pico, Carlsbad. Call 760-724-7067 or visit Sandiegoasg.org.

Big Band & Jazz Hall of Fame Orchestra
, a nonprofit foundation band of 17 musicians and two vocalists, promotes music education in North County. Proceeds from CD sales and concerts provide scholarships for promising high school students. Call 866-851-5299 or e-mail bigbandjazzorch@yahoo.com or visit bigbandjazzorch.org.

Carlsbad Music Guild
meets from noon to 3 p.m. the first and last Tuesdays at the Dove Library, 1775 Dove Lane, for a music appreciation program that includes discussions of opera and great composers. Call 760-633-1953. Visit CarlsbadMusicGuild.org.

Del Mar Foundation
hosts concerts and lectures on the first Thursday (except July and August) as part of the First Thursdays series at the Del Mar Powerhouse Community Center, 1658 Coast Blvd. Call 858-635-1363 or visit delmarfoundation.org.

El Camino Quilters Guild
holds a meeting and program from 9:30 a.m. to noon the second Thursday at the North Coast Church in Vista, 1132 N. Melrose Drive. Call 760-757-3056 or 760-598-8289 or visit elcaminoquilters.com.

The Encinitas School of Music Big Band
offers musicians of all ages the opportunity to perform in a jazz band setting. Students who have played saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, guitar and drums for at least two years are invited to join. Call 760-612-5299 or visit ESOM.org.

The Encinitas School of Music
offers a flute choir program for all ages who have played at least two years at 7 p.m. Wednesdays at 775 Orpheus Ave., Encinitas. Program includes clinics, field trips and concerts. Music ranges from classical to pop. Fee is $40 monthly or $10 per session. Register at 760-757-3096.

Magic Guild of Southern California
, a group for amateur and professional magicians and clowns, meets at 7:30 p.m. the first Thursday at Coco's Restaurant, 605 W. Vista Way, Vista. Call 760-941-3771 or 858-793-0785.

MiraCosta College's Kruglak Gallery
is open from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, in the college's Student Center, 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside. Call 760-795-6815 or visit miracosta.edu.

North County Videomakers Club
, a group that meets the third Wednesday to learn how to make better videos at KOCT studios, 3058 Industry St., Oceanside. First meeting is free for visitors; annual dues are $30. Call 858-484-3903.

Oceanside Museum of Art
features exhibitions of regional and national art, educational programs, docent tours and a store at 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. Call 760-435-3720 or visit oma-online.org.

The Sunshine Brooks Theater
offers an open mike every Thursday on the Twilight Stage, 219 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside. The mike is open to everyone for music, poetry or the spoken word. Admission is $2. Call 760-529-9140.

Vista Art Foundation, Gallery 204
is open from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday at 204 Main St., Vista. Professional artist and Vista Art Foundation vice president Arthur Williamson leads two sketch groups that meet from 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays. Guest artists of all levels using any medium can come and sketch professional live models, who are in costume with props, for two consecutive weeks. Cost is $8. Call 760-305-8278, e-mail gallery204@gmail.com. Visit vistaartfoundation.org.

The Vista Hills Chorus
, a female a cappella chorus, meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the Church of Christ, 926 Second St., Encinitas. Call 760-634-8446 or visit harmonize.com/vistahillschorus.

The Vista Sketch Group
meets from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays at Gallery 204, 204 Main St., Vista. Artists of all levels, using any medium, share a costumed model. Fee is $5 to $8 (depending on the group's size), and goes to the model/actor. First timers should e-mail ajpastels@gmail.com.

INLAND

American Guild of Organists, Palomar chapter
promotes excellence in playing and performing music by professional members. Education and certification workshops and resources available. Meetings are held every other month in various North County locations. Call 760-224-1123.

The Church at Rancho Bernardo's Senior Choir, Joyful Praise
, is accepting members. The choir is for older adults. No audition is necessary; no formal musical experience is required. Rehearsals go from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays. Call 858-592-2434.

The city of San Marcos
offers art classes for ages 2-3 and their parents, grandparents or helpers at these locations:

The classes include painting, gluing, sculpting and printing. The classes start the first week of each month with new lessons. Cost is $52 for four weeks, including materials. Register at san-marcos.net. Call 760-744-9000.

Escondido Art Association
meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at the Joslyn Senior Center, 210 Park Ave., Escondido. The meetings feature professional art demonstrations. The Artists Gallery at 121 W. Grand Ave. is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Call 760-489-0338 or visit escondidoartists.org.

Fallbrook Art Association
meets at 7 p.m. the second Monday from September through June with a critique session from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Fallbrook Public Utility Department Building, 990 E. Mission, Fallbrook. Call 760-728-7884. Visit fallbrookartassn.org.

Fallbrook Quilt Guild
meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Thursday at the Fallbrook Community Center, 341 Heald Lane. Call 760-728-9351.

Hidden Valley Community Concert Association
presents a five-concert subscription season in the Center Theater at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. Call 760-740-0619 or e-mail tomlinsonescondido@cox.net.

New West Ballet Theatre
stages the "Nutcracker" every year with open auditions in September. Dance lessons are provided by the affiliated New West Ballet School, which moved in January to 1215 Linda Vista Drive, Suite B, San Marcos. Call 760-525-6738.

North County Society of Fine Arts
offers critique and art demonstration programs at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday at the Bernardo Heights Community Center, 16150 Bernardo Heights Parkway, Rancho Bernardo. Other activities offered include paint-outs, bus trips to museums and member displays. Visit ncsfa.org.

Palomar Handweavers Guild
meets from 9:30 a.m. to noon the second Monday from September to June at Trinity Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 845 Chestnut St., Escondido. Evening meetings are from 7 to 9 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday from January through October at member's homes in North San Diego County. Call 760-533-5857. Visit palomarguild.org.

Palomar Pacific Music Men
, a barbershop-harmony chorus, meets from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays at the San Marcos senior center, 111 Richmar Ave, San Marcos. Call 760-839-6518.

The Rancho Bernardo Art Association
meets from 5 to 9 p.m. the first Friday at the Rancho Bernardo Winery, 13330 Paseo del Verano Norte. Members have critique nights and award shows, share ideas with their art and exhibit their work as well as see demonstrations from professional artists. Membership is $25, $30 for couples and $15 for students. Call 858-675-2262.

RB Chorale
is a community choir of more than 130 singers. The group rehearses from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Westwood Elementary School, 17449 Matinal Road, Rancho Bernardo. Under the direction of Pat Bean, the group presents two concert series a year. Call 858-485-7664. Visit rbchorale.org.

The Valley Center History Museum
displays American Indian art and history at 29200 Cole Grade Road. Hours are 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Admission and parking are free. Call 760-749-2993 or visit valleycenterhistory.org.

The Valley Center Art Association
provides adult art classes, workshops, and art shows as well as youth art programs such as classes for children, high school art career days, art shows and scholarships. Call 760-749-7589.